from the memoirs of a minister of france- 第27部分

〃Fifteen　hundred　crowns；　sire。〃

The　King　cast　an　indescribable　look　at　me；　wherein　amusement；　scorn；　and　astonishment　were　all　blended。　　〃St。　Gris！　　man！〃　　he　said；　shrugging　his　shoulders　and　drawing　in　his　breath　sharply；　〃you　think　God　is　as　easily　duped　as　the　King！　　I　wish　I　could　think　so。〃

He　did　not　speak　again　until　we　were　half…way　back　to　the　Louvre；　when　he　opened　his　mouth　to　announce　his　intention　of　rewarding　me　with　a　tithe　of　the　money　recovered。　　It　was　duly　paid　to　me；　and　I　bought　with　it　part　of　the　outlying　lands　of　Villebon　those；　I　mean；　which　extend　towards　Chartres。　　The　rest　of　the　money；　notwithstanding　all　my　efforts；　was　wasted　here　and　there；　Pimentel　winning　thirty　crowns　of　the　King　that　year。　　But　the　discovery　led　to　others　of　a　similar　character；　and　eventually　set　me　on　the　track　of　a　greater　offender；　M。　l'Argentier；　whom　I　brought　to　justice　a　few　months　later。



IX。　THE　MAID　OF　HONOUR。

In　accordance　with　my　custom　I　gave　an　entertainment　on　the　last　day　of　this　year　to　the　King　and　Queen；　who　came　to　the　Arsenal　with　a　numerous　train；　and　found　the　diversions　I　had　provided　so　much　to　their　taste　that　they　did　not　leave　until　I　was　half　dead　with　fatigue；　and　like　to　be　killed　with　complaisance。　　Though　this　was　not　the　most　splendid　entertainment　I　gave　that　year；　it　had　the　good　fortune　to　please；　and　in　a　different　and　less　agreeable　fashion　is　recalled　to　my　memory　by　a　peculiar　chain　of　events；　whereof　the　first　link　came　under　my　eyes　during　its　progress。

I　have　mentioned　in　an　earlier　part　of　these　memoirs；　a　Portuguese　adventurer　who；　about　this　time；　gained　large　sums　from　the　Court　at　play；　and　more　than　once　compelled　the　King　to　have　recourse　to　me。　　I　had　the　worst　opinion　of　this　man；　and　did　not　scruple　to　express　it　on　several　occasions；　and　this　the　more；　as　his　presumption　fell　little　short　of　his　knavery；　while　he　treated　those　whom　he　robbed　with　as　much　arrogance　as　if　to　play　with　him　were　an　honour。　　Holding　this　view　of　him；　I　was　far　from　pleased　when　I　discovered　that　the　King　had　brought　him　to　my　house；　but　the　feeling；　though　sufficiently　strong；　sank　to　nothing　beside　the　indignation　and　disgust　which　I　experienced　when；　the　company　having　fallen　to　cards　after　supper；　I　found　that　the　Queen　had　sat　down　with　him　to　primero。

It　did　not　lessen　my　annoyance；　that　I　had；　after　my　usual　fashion；　furnished　the　Queen　with　a　purse　for　her　sport；　and　in　this　way　found　myself　reduced　to　stand　by　and　see　my　good　money　pass　into　the　clutches　of　this　knave。　　Under　the　circumstances；　and　in　my　own　house；　I　could　do　nothing；　nevertheless；　the　table　at　which　they　sat　possessed　so　strong　a　fascination　for　me　that　I　several　times　caught　myself　staring　at　it　more　closely　than　was　polite；　and　as　to　disgust　at　the　unseemliness　of　such　companionship　was　added　vexation　at　my　own　loss；　I　might　have　gone　farther　towards　betraying　my　feelings　if　a　casual　glance　aside　had　not　disclosed　to　me　the　fact　that　I　did　not　stand　alone　in　my　dissatisfaction；　but　that；　frivolous　as　the　majority　of　the　courtiers　were；　there　was　one　at　least　among　those　present　who　viewed　this　particular　game　with　distaste。

This　person　stood　near　the　door；　and　fancying　himself　secured　from　observation；　either　by　his　position　or　his　insignificance；　was　glowering　on　the　pair　in　a　manner　that　at　another　time　must　have　cost　him　a　rebuke。　　As　it　was；　I　found　something　friendly；　as　well　as　curious；　in　his　fixed　frown；　and　ignorant　of　his　name；　though　I　knew　him　by　sight；　wondered　both　who　he　was　and　what　was　the　cause　of　his　preoccupation。

On　the　one　point　I　had　no　difficulty　in　satisfying　myself。　Boisrueil；　who　presently　passed；　told　me　that　his　name　was　Vallon；　that　he　belonged　to　a　poor　but　old　family　in　the　Cotentin；　and　that　he　had　been　only　three　months　at　court。

〃Making　his　fortune；　I　suppose？〃　　I　said　grimly。　　〃He　games？〃

〃No；　your　excellency。〃

〃Is　in　debt？〃

〃Not　to　my　knowledge。〃

〃To　whom　does　he　pay　his　court；　then？〃

〃To　the　King。〃

〃And　the　Queen？〃

〃Not　particularlyas　far　as　I　know；　at　least。　　But　if　you　wish　to　know　more；　M。　le　Duc；〃　Boisrueil　continued；　〃I　will〃

〃No；　no；〃　I　said　peevishly。　　The　Queen　had　just　handed　her　last　rouleau　across　the　table；　and　was　still　playing。　　〃Go；　man；　about　your　business；　I　don't　want　to　spend　the　evening　gossiping　with　you。〃

He　went；　and　I　dismissed　the　young　fellow　from　my　mind；　only　to　find　him　five　minutes　later　at　my　elbow。　　To　youth　and　good　looks　he　added　a　modest　bearing　that　did　not　fail　to　enhance　them　and　commend　him　to　me；　the　majority　of　the　young　sparks　of　the　day　being　wiser　than　their　fathers。　　But　I　confess　that　I　was　not　prepared　for　the　stammering　embarrassment　with　which　he　addressed　menor；　indeed；　to　be　addressed　by　him　at　all。

〃M。　de　Sully；〃　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　emotion；　〃I　beg　you　to　pardon　me。　　I　am　in　great　trouble；　and　I　think　that　perhaps；　stranger　as　I　am；　you　may　condescend　to　do　me　a　service。〃

So　many　men　appeal　to　a　minister　with　some　such　formula　on　their　lips；　and　at　times　with　a　calculated　timidity；　that　at　the　first　blush　of　his　request　I　was　inclined　to　bid　him　come　to　me　at　the　proper　time；　and　to　remove　to　another　part　of　the　room。　　But　curiosity；　playing　the　part　of　his　advocate；　found　so　much　that　was　candid　in　his　manner　that　I　hesitated。　　〃What　is　it？〃　　I　said　stiffly。

〃A　very　slight；　if　a　very　unusual；　one；〃　he　muttered。　　〃M。　le　Duc；　I　only　want　you　to〃

〃To？〃　　for　he　stopped　and　seemed　unable　to　go　on。

〃To　supplement　the　present　you　have　given　to　the　Queen　with　this；〃　he　blurted　out；　his　face　pale　with　emotion；　and　he　stealthily　held　out　to　me　a　green　silk　purse；　through　the　meshes　of　which　I　saw　the　glint　of　gold。　　〃M。　de　Sully；〃　he　continued；　observing　my　hasty　movement；　〃do　not　be　offended！　　I　know　that　you　have　done　all　that　hospitality　required。　　But　I　see　that　the　Queen　has　already　lost　your　gift；　and　that〃

She　is　playing　on　credit？〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur。〃

He　said　it　simply；　and　as　he　spoke；　he　again　pressed　on　me　the　purse。　　I　took　and　weighed　it；　and　calculated　at　a　guess　that　it　held　fifty　crowns。　　The　sum　astonished　me。　　〃Why；　man；〃　I　said；　〃you　are　not　mad　enough　to　be　in　love　with　her　Majesty？〃

〃No！〃　　he　cried；　vehemently；　yet　with　a　gleam　of　humour　in　his　eye。　　〃I　swear　that　it　is　not　so。　　If　you　will　do　me　this　favour　〃

It　was　a　mad　impulse　that　took　me；　but　I　nodded；　and　resolving　to　make　good　the　money　out　of　my　own　pocket　should　the　case；　when　all　was　clear；　seem　to　demand　it；　I　went　straight　from　him；　and；　crossing　the　floor；　laid　the　purse　near　her　Majesty's　hand；　with　a　polite　word　of　regret　that　fortune　had　used　her　so　ill；　and　a　hope　that　this　might　be　the　means　of　recruiting　her　forces。

It　would　not　have　surprised　me　had　she　shown　some　signs　of　consciousness；　and　perhaps　betrayed　that　she　recognised　the　purse。　　But　she　contented　herself　with　thanking　me　prettily；　and　almost　before　I　had　done　speaking　had　her　slender　fingers　among　the　coins。　　Turning；　I　found　that　Vallon　had　disappeared；　so　that　all　came　to　a　sudden　stop；　and　with　the　one　and　the　other；　I　retired　completely　puzzled；　and　less　able　than　before　to　make　even　a　guess　at　the　secret　of　the　young　man's　generosity。

However；　the　King　summoning　me　to　him；　there；　for　the　time；　was　an　end　of　the　matter：　　and　between　fatigue　and　the　duties　of　my　position；　I　did　not　give　a　second　thought　to　it　that　evening。　Next　morning；　too；　I　was　taken　up　with　the　gifts　which　it　was　my　privilege　as　Master　of　the　Mint　to　present　to　the　King　on　New　Year's　Day；　and　which　consisted　this　year　of　medals　of　gold；　silver；　and　copper；　bearing　inscriptions　of　my　own　composition；　together　with　small　bags　of　new　coins　for　the　King；　the　Queen；　and　their　attendants。

These　I　always　made　it　a　point　to　offer　before　the　King　rose；　nor　was　this　year　an　exception；　for　I　found　his　Majesty　still　in　bed；　the　Queen　occupying　a　couch　in　the　same　chamber。　　But　whereas　it　generally　fell　to　me　to　arouse　them　from　sleep；　and　be　the　first　to　offer　those　compliments　which　befitted　the　day；　I　found　them　on　this　occasion　fully　roused；　the　King　lazily　toying　with　his　watch；　the　Queen　talking　fast　and　angrily；　and　at　the　edge　of　the　carpet　beside　her　bed　Mademoiselle　D'Oyley　in　deep　disgrace。　　The　Queen；　indeed；　was　so　taken　up　with　scolding　her　that　she　had　forgotten　what　day　it　was；　and　even　after　my　entrance；　continued　to　rate　the　poor　girl　so　fiercely　that　I　thought　her　present　violence　little　less　unseemly　than　her　condescension　of　the　night　before。

Perhaps　some　trace　of　this　feeling　appeared　in　my　countenance；　for；　presently；　the　King；　who　seldom　failed　to　read　my　thoughts；　tried　to　check　her　in　a　good…natured　fashion。　　〃Come；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　〃let　that　trembling　mouse　go。　　And　do　you　hear　what　our　good　friend　Sully　has　brought　you？　　I'll　be　bound〃

〃How　your　Majesty　talks！〃　　the　Queen　answered；　pettishly。　　〃As　if　a　few　paltry　coins　could　make　up　for　my　jar！　　I'll　be　bound；　for　my　part；　that　this　idle　wench　was　romping　and　playing　with〃

〃Come；　come；　you　have　made　her　cry　enough！〃　　the　King　interruptedand；　indeed；　the　girl　was　sobbing　so　passionately　that　a　man　could　not　listen　without　pain。　　〃Let　her　go；　I　say；　and　do　you　attend　to　Sully。　　You　have　forgotten　that　it　is　New　Year's　Day〃

〃A　jar　of　majolica；〃　the　Queen　cried；　Utterly　disregarding　him；　〃worth　your　body　and　soul；　you　little　slut！〃

〃Pooh！　　pooh！〃　　the　King　said。

〃Do　you　think　that　I　brought　it　from　Florence；　all　the　way　in　my　own〃

〃Nightcap；〃　the　King　muttered。　　〃There；　there；　sweetheart；〃　he　continued；　aloud；　〃let　the　girl　go！〃

〃Of　course！　　She　is　a　girl；〃　the　Queen　cried；　with　a　sneer。　〃That　is　enough　for　you！〃

〃Well；　madam；　she　is　not　the　only　one　in　the　room；〃　I　ventured。

〃Oh；　of　course？；　you　are　the　King's　echo！〃

〃Run　away；　little　one；〃　Henry　said；　winking　to　me　to　be　silent。

〃And　consider　yourself　lucky；〃　the　Queen　cried；　venomously。　　〃You　ought　to　be　whipped；　and　if　I　had　you　in　my　country；　I　would　have　you　whipped　for　all　your　airs！　　San　Giacomo；　if　you　cross　me；　I　will　see　to　it！〃

This　was　a　parting　thrust；　for　the　girl；　catching　at　the　King's　permission；　had　turned　and　was　hurrying　in　a　passion　of　tears　to　the　door。